44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1999

RELATING TO CHILDREN; CREATING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY METHODS TO DIVERT CHILDREN FROM A LIFE OF CRIME; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. TASK FORCE CREATED--MEMBERSHIP--DUTIES--APPROPRIATION.--

A. There is created, under the direction of the chief judge for the second judicial district, a task force for the purpose of studying and recommending to the legislature programs that serve to divert children from a life of crime. The task force shall study programs that operate in Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia counties.

B. The task force shall include a representative from the children, youth and families department; a representative from the department of health; a representative from the Albuquerque department of family and community services; a representative from the Albuquerque public school district; a representative from the Albuquerque police department; a representative from the Bernalillo county sheriff's department; a representative from the Bernalillo county juvenile detention center; a children's court judge from the second judicial district; an assistant district attorney who practices in the children's court in the second judicial district; a public defender who practices in the children's court in the second judicial district; a guardian ad litem; a representative of the county maternal and child health planning council as provided for in the County Maternal and Child Health Plan Act; the executive secretary of the Albuquerque council on churches; and three public members from interested child-oriented organizations. All task force members shall be appointed by the chief judge for the second judicial district.

C. The task force shall examine programs providing opportunities to divert children from a life of crime, including:

(1) home visits by child-care professionals starting before birth and continuing for the first two years of a child's life;

(2) training for parents and therapy for families with school-age children who have exhibited inappropriate aggression or otherwise demonstrated unhealthy behavior in school;

(3) creating incentives, including cash, to induce disadvantaged students to complete their education; and

(4) monitoring and supervising youth who have exhibited delinquent behavior.

D. The task force shall make a preliminary progress report to the legislative education study committee, the legislative finance committee, the interim legislative health and human services committee and the interim legislative committee with jurisdiction over criminal law issues, at their respective October 1999 meetings, and present its final report, including legislative recommendations, to the same committees by October 31, 2000.

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thirty-five thousand dollars ($135,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the local government division of the department of finance and administration for expenditure in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 to contract with a criminal justice planning body in Bernalillo county that will support the work of the task force created in Section 1 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.